We leave the series of African first-visit confluences and discover Sahel like hills in Greece and wild canyons in Albania.

We had to visit the Meteora monasteries even if they are not exactly the direct route to Albania. This far East another 80 kilometers doesn’t make much difference.

From Kalambáka we took the road north to Grevená. As we had to stay in the valley of Ion we went right to the East about 19 km down the road in the direction of Elassóna. At the branch to Loutró our road started to ascend.

Drying racks mark the edge of tobacco fields at the lower slopes. The narrow road winds steeply up to a hilly upland. In Akri the topographic map recommended by Lonely Planet and as well by our friend Andei shows to the right. We were a little bit astonished realizing that the road shown in the Road Editions 3 Epirus / Thessaly is a dirt road.

As German's we were wondering if it is allowed to drive. The track crosses the steep hillside on the South, around a sharp ridge and North again on the backside another turn and up the next face Southward. Three times we went around the flanks of the mountain Sarandáporo. Hopeful Signs: A turtle crossed our path like the previous visitors experienced.

A mandatory Proskinitária (wayside shrine) at the saddle marks the junction. The main route runs over the edge into the valley our track pulls off this side to Southeast across the next hillside. Grassland covers the saddle to Southwest. The direct path to the confluence is hardly visible. Therefore we drove a few meters ahead around a small wood.

An old oak tree marked the shortest distance 170 meters down to Northeast. The confluence is situated at the lower end of a thorn shrub between ancient olive trees and fern.